Abstract

Immune impairment or dysfunction is associated with cancers, and is frequently aggravated by conventional therapies. As a consequence, the development of agents active on the immune system in ways that restore or regulate host defenses, has become a major objective. An overall appreciation of the published data led us to conceptualize the following requirements for suitable immunopharmacologic agents. Absence of carcinogenicity, of tumor promoting influence and of antigenicity or sensitizing effects, is an essential prerequisite since these agents will be administered for long periods of time to patients already at risk. They should have defined influences on populations or subpopulations of immunocompetent cells, as their essential activities. Their toxic levels and pharmacologic effects should be known to delineate the range of doses and predict most side effects. Such requirements will reasonably eliminate most of the inconsistencies which have somewhat dampened confidence in therapies intended to modify the immune system.